Safety Groups Press for Safer Car Windows

The Daily Auto Insider: Kids and Cars, safety advocates have launched a campaign to change their power windows.

Kids and Cars, the Consumer Federation of America and other safety advocates have launched a campaign to force U.S. automakers to change their power windows, The Associated Press reported.

Kids and Cars says it has documented 23 deaths from power windows since 1993 but says the total could be much higher, the story said. The group is filing a petition asking the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require safer power windows and is also writing to automakers and running public service announcements, "The industry shirks responsibility for windows they know to be deadly," said Janette Fennell, president of Kids and Cars of Kansas City, Kan.

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The NHTSA is studying the problem and plans to release preliminary data on deaths this fall, a spokesman said.

The campaign doesn't target European or Japanese automakers, who install safer switches, the story said. In April 2003, the European Union began requiring automakers to have safer switches, which, unlike the rocking switches in many U.S. vehicles, are flush with the arm rest and require users to pull up if they want the window to rise.

General Motors, Ford and DaimlerChrysler said they have safety features in place, including driver-operated lockout switches on all vehicles that prevent children from using windows in the back seat.

Blackout Still Effects Canadian Auto Output

Auto plants in Ontario, Canada have not yet resumed full production after being shut down by last week's power blackout, Reuters reported.

General Motors of Canada dialed down much of its Ontario production on and moved some to Oshawa, Ontario, plants while further reducing production at another, the story said. "We hope by the end of the week that the situation is back to normal," a company spokesman said.

Honda has shut down one of its two assembly plants at Alliston, Ontario, during peak hours but extended non-peak shifts. Its other plant was operating normally.

DaimlerChrylser Canada juggled production at two of its plants, running the midnight shift at its Windsor, Ontario, assembly plant, while shutting down a trim plant.

Ford said it was cautiously ramping up production but still operating at reduced levels.

The shortage of power also affected auto-parts makers. Magna International Inc. said it had cut production to comply with the lower energy requirements.

Upgrades to the for 2004 include a new front center console for the Coupe Leather 6MT model (adds center armrest and an additional front cupholder) and a standard Tire Pressure Monitor System and improved standard 6-disc CD changer (with faster operation) on all models.

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